WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons (7-1) allowed just four offensive rebounds, downing the sharp-shooting Fraser Valley Cascades (3-4) 93-86 on Friday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 

"We stubbornly stayed big while they went small. I think that probably gave up some open threes on our part, but they gave up some rebounding opportunities," Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp said postgame.

"That was kind of the trade-off there and you hope that [Fraser Valley] at least don't make enough to really kill you. We were plus 16 on the glass tonight and that was probably the difference in the game. 

Forward James Wagner led the charge with a team-leading 23 points and 12 boards, while guard Rashawn Browne also had a double-double with 14 points and 12 assists. 

Fraser Valley was led by Vick Toor and Parm Bains, who scored 23 points each. 

Both teams had great looks in the first period, however it was the Bisons who entered the second up 20-15.

Six different players had at least two points for the hosts, including Wagner's team-leading nine. Fraser Valley countered with a well-rounded performance from Toor, who had three points, two steals and an assist. 

Manitoba took over in the second, outscoring the Cascades 13-4 through the first five minutes and 26-17 overall. 

Rashawn Browne facilitated the ball all across the lineup, recording nine assists through 20 minutes, while the Bisons also shot four-of-seven from beyond the arc in the period. 

"He certainly draws a lot of attention, Schepp said of Browne. 

"He was very, very good at [facilitating] tonight. That's certainly his nature. He wants to find people and distribute the ball and he did a good job of that tonight."

Forward Andre Arruda had two of those treys and had ten points, entering the third, while Wagner added four points, six boards and two assists. 

The Cascades were led by the conference's third-leading scorer Parm Bains (tied with Browne at 21 points per game), a lights-out shooter from beyond the arc who scored nine of his team-leading 12 points from distance. 

Manitoba opened up a lead of as much as 21 in the third, doing an excellent job of negating second chance opportunities for UFV. Through three, the hosts controlled the rebounding total by 20, including not allowing a single offensive board. 

Fraser Valley answered back with their calling card, the three ball. Toor led the way with three treys, while win Jaskam Bajwa added two. 

The Cascades went five out to end the third and showed the look in the fourth as well, knowing the three-ball would be their key to clawing back into the contest. 

Their approach paid off, as Parm and Sukhjot Bains dialled it in from distance to help reduce the host's lead to as much as five. The Bisons got into the bonus though, and were able to win the game from the free throw line late. 

Both sides will be back at it again tomorrow.